RHAPSODY-plus: Online Counseling for Family Caregivers of Patients With Young Onset Dementia

RHAPSODY-plus is a joint project of the Technische Universität München, Zentrum für kognitive Störungen and the Melbourne University. The project consists of two parts. In a first step carers of people with young onset dementia (YOD; onset before the age of 65) have the opportunity to use the RHAPSODY online program (Kurz et al., 2016) for four weeks. This e-learning program focuses on managing problem behaviors, dealing with role change, obtaining support, and looking after oneself. In a second step the participants will receive two individual counseling sessions via MEET (online videoconferencing). In a first session carers can talk with a social worker about individual problems concerning social, financial and legal issues. In a second session with a psychologist personal and emotional problems can be addressed. These two sessions are about 60 minutes. The study investigates whether these counseling sessions have an additional benefit. The primary aim is to determine whether the intervention is considered acceptable and useful by the participants. Secondary aim is to investigate whether the intervention is feasible. The sample size will be determined when data saturation is reached (no new themes emerge from the qualitative data at the final feedback session). From previous experiences with pilot studies using qualitative methods we expect this to be achieved with approximately 20 participants. This number of participants should also ensure that a diverse group of carers is participating in this pilot study (both genders; different age groups, types of relatives; diagnoses (both FTD and AD) for care recipients; environments (city versus rural); socioeconomic status; and carer stressors (carers with children, carers who hold a job, carers with different stressors, etc.).

Inclusion criteria

• informal carer of a person with YOD who has been diagnosed with either Frontal Temporal Dementia (FTD) or Alzheimer's Disease (AD) 12 months ago or less;
• the carer has face-to-face contact with the person with YOD at least twice a weak;
• the carer has a working computer and internet access in his home;
• the carer is available for the intervention duration of approximately eight weeks;
• the carer is fluent in German;
• signed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• the carer has face-to-face contact with the person with YOD less than twice a week;
• the person with YOD the carer is caring for has a different dementia cause other than FTD or AD or the diagnosis is older than 12 months;
• the carer does not have a working computer and internet access at home or is not confident to use them;
• the carer is not available for the approximately eight week intervention duration;
• the carer is not fluent in German;
• the carer has a significant health problem or disability, which precludes him/her from participating in the study;
• no signed informed consent.